The main gist of the update are the collectible decorations that will cozy up your Home once you complete certain Deeds and progress your Viceroy career path. The update also introduces new dialogue options with Aunt Lori, new Deeds, and more.
If you can’t join our livestream, make sure to check our YouTube channel later, where we keep the full Livestream Archive playlist.
If this is your first Against the Storm update, make sure to finish your ongoing settlement. Otherwise, it will be closed when the update goes live tomorrow. You can learn more below.
May the storm be gentle on you, Eremite Games
How to prepare
We release new content Updates every two weeks on Thursdays around 1 pm – 3 pm UTC. As we make multiple changes to the game’s systems, balance, and content, the game needs to force-finish any settlements that are in progress when you download the update. This aims to prevent various game-breaking bugs that could occur otherwise.
IMPORTANT: If you have a settlement in progress, it will have to be force-finished when you download the Update. You will be reimbursed with Citadel Resources but you will have to start a new settlement. Your meta progress (that is: Experience, Level, completed Deeds, unlocked Upgrades, Citadel Resources, etc.) will remain intact.
In the main menu, under the “Play” button, there’s a countdown to upcoming Updates. Please finish your current settlement before the update day if you don’t want it to be completed automatically.
A new hotfix is ready to be downloaded. We tackled the issues you've reported since yesterday's Guidance and Lore Update. Thank you for your feedback and swift reports!
Changelog:
Fixed an issue with haulers and hauling carts not unloading buildings with less than 5 goods stored in them.
Fixed a bug that caused Aunt Lori's dialogue to reset after clicking on her hand.
Fixed an issue with some resources being duplicated in the grid view in the warehouse panel.
Fixed a bug with completed tracked deeds staying on top of the deed list when sorting by "tracked".
Fixed a typo in the Polish decision tooltip of the Brass Order Engineers world event.
Fixed an issue with the resource tooltip being too small when right-clicking on some goods in the warehouse panel.
Fixed an issue with the construction animation resetting incorrectly when moving an unfinished building
Fixed an incorrect tooltip header when hovering over the inactive icon above a deactivated building.
Fixed a bug with the buildings being incorrectly placed in debug mode on the Experimental Branch.
Have a great time with the new Update and awesome weekend. Cheers!
I can't think of anything more pleasant than basking in front of the fireplace and reading the hot-off-the-press issue of the Smoldering City Journal.
Here are the keys to your new home. Take your raincoat off, put on those comfy slippers, and enjoy your reading.
What’s new:
Aunt Lori - interactable character
Tutorialized narrative
Building deactivation
Grid and list view in Warehouse
Enough of me talking, it seems you have a visitor to take care of!
DEVELOPER NOTES
In today’s update, we bring you the first part of the new Guidance and Lore system - a feature meant to breathe a bit more life into the Citadel and give new players a sense of direction (while also providing lore and some practical advice). Additionally, we introduce a few minor UI and balance changes, as well as a whole host of bug fixes.
Let’s first start with a somewhat lengthy preamble. We’re slowly but surely nearing the 1.0 release of Against the Storm. From a development standpoint, this means one thing - focusing on the last few items on the roadmap, like the aforementioned Guidance and Lore system, tutorial improvements, Steam Deck Verified status, and general polish/balance. That’s why this and the next few updates won’t be introducing any core gameplay shakeups and will be more about delivering on the promises we made during Early Access.
This doesn’t mean we will stop introducing community-inspired improvements or that we’ll slow down our update schedule. We just wanted to let you know what the team is currently working on and what to expect in the near future. We will share the exact date of the 1.0 release with you soon-ish™.
But enough of that. Let’s now go over the main feature of this update - Guidance and Lore. This system, in a way, is part of the extended tutorial of the game. It’s mostly aimed at new players, but it’s not trying to hold their hands and force them to do anything. It’s more of an additional support mechanic that helps to understand the game and add context.
Instead of hiding it behind the in-game encyclopedia or showing annoying popups, we decided to go with a more immersive approach. From now on, after finishing a very early Deed (First Steps), you will get access to your own home in the Smoldering City. There, you will meet Aunt Lori - an interactable NPC who serves as a mentor and guide.
To talk to Aunt Lori, you need to visit the Smoldering City and either select the new building directly or click on the “Home” button in the Citadel UI. This will take you to a new screen with the interior of your house and Aunt Lori in it.
When talking to Aunt Lori, you can ask her questions regarding certain game mechanics, get a few bits of lore from time to time, and ask her for advice. Some conversation topics are always available, while others will only appear if certain conditions are met (like specific gameplay tips based on your previous runs).
Interactions with this system are never forced. You won’t get a dialogue box in the middle of a game or while browsing the upgrade tree. We designed this feature so that it’s useful and fun for players who enjoy a bit of lore and need some advice, while not forcing it on players who just want to focus on the mechanical aspects of the game.
As this is the first iteration of Guidance and Lore, there aren’t that many subjects you can pick when talking to Aunt Lori. But we will expand upon this system in the next few updates - by adding collectibles to the Viceroy’s Quarters (your home), increasing the number of conversation topics and tips, and introducing dialogue branches meant to guide new players through the game’s content. As with every new addition to the game, we will closely monitor your feedback on it and adjust if necessary.
Before we move on to the detailed changelog, let’s just quickly go over the most important UI changes coming with this update. We added a grid/list toggle to the warehouse panel, we improved hauler AI to prioritize fuller internal storages, we added the option to freely move all unconstructed buildings, and we introduced a new “activate/deactivate” button for all production buildings and construction sites. We also fixed a lot of bugs, as well as tweaked the balance of some production buildings and Forest Mysteries.
Thank you for providing us with feedback and suggestions for the new update. If you’d like to share your ideas for upcoming updates, here are some useful links:
P.S. One of the best things you can do to help indie games is to leave a Steam review. If you’ve had a chance to play Against the Storm, we’d love to hear any feedback, positive or negative. Thanks!
CHANGELOG
Number of changes: 42 Inspired by community: 95%
Changes marked with ⚡ were inspired by the community.
New content and features
⚡ Added the Guidance and Lore system in the form of a new interactable NPC in the Citadel - Aunt Lori.
The Guidance and Lore system is mainly aimed at new players, but it should also introduce some interesting lore and tips for veterans.
The current version of this system is just the first iteration, so the number of dialogue options and conversation topics is not final. We will introduce new options and topics in the coming weeks.
The core of the Guidance and Lore system is the player’s home in the Smoldering City and Aunt Lori - an interactable mentor NPC.
To unlock the Viceroy’s Quarters and Aunt Lori, you have to complete the First Steps Deed (finish a game after the tutorial).
After it’s unlocked, the Viceroy’s Quarters appear in the Smoldering City, where they can be entered either by clicking on the building or a button in the Citadel UI.
The interactable NPC, Aunt Lori, is always present in the player’s home. The game never forces the player to interact with her, though. All conversations are completely optional and never occur outside of the player’s home.
Conversations are mostly focused on lore, tutorialization, and contextual tips.
Some dialogue options are always there (like questions about specific game mechanics), and others appear based on player actions (like a tip about Blightrot if the player was struggling with it in a previous game).
In the next update, we will introduce dialogue options meant to direct the player towards their next objective, as well as collectibles in the Viceroy’s Quarters (as rewards for Deeds). There will also be some new Deeds overall.
Added a new Deed - First Steps. It can be completed by finishing the first game after the tutorial (existing players will have to just play one run to unlock it, no matter their progress).
The reward for that Deed is the Viceroy’s Quarters - your very own home in the Smoldering City.
Balance
⚡ Adjusted the AI of haulers and hauling carts. They will now prioritize fuller internal storages over emptier ones (although distance is still a significant factor).
⚡ Reshuffled a few recipes in buildings to avoid too similar configurations.
Smelter - removed Pipes (★★), added Training Gear (★★).
Smithy - removed Training Gear (★★), added Pipes (★★).
The changes to the Smelter also apply to the Flawless Smelter.
⚡ Removed the Shifting Paths Forest Mystery.
⚡ Rebalanced the Unnatural Erosion Forest Mystery. It now activates at Hostility 4 and spawns in a more balanced configuration (with a higher chance of spawning alongside stronger positive Forest Mysteries and weaker negative ones).
⚡ Added Porridge to Training Expeditions (as a selectable starting good).
⚡ Added Porridge to trade routes. Towns established in the Coral Forest and the Cursed Royal Woodlands will now sometimes request it.
Towns built in the Royal Woodlands will now sometimes request Leather in trading routes.
Renamed the old First Steps Deed to Third Time’s a Charm.
UX/UI improvements
⚡ All unconstructed buildings can now be moved for free.
Beware that moving a construction site will reset building progress and return the used resources to the Main Storage.
⚡ Added a grid/list toggle to the warehouse panel.
To track or set a lower limit for a resource in the grid view, click it and use the small interactable tooltip.
The list view works the same way as before.
⚡ Added an option to deactivate construction sites and production buildings. Deactivated buildings are ignored by haulers and builders, and all workers are unassigned immediately.
The “deactivate” button can be found in the building panel after selecting a given building.
There is also a keybind for deactivating/activating a building ( . by default).
⚡ Added an alert when a resource node is removed by a Seal Plague or Forest Mystery.
⚡ Changed how completed Deeds are highlighted to make it clearer that a reward can be collected.
⚡ Changed the wording in the description of the Vitality effect (Tea Doctor). It now correctly states that the bonus is triggered for every fulfilled complex food need, not for every complex food item consumed.
⚡ Changed the wording in some World Event decision tooltips to avoid the word “pay” for embarkation goods (it only occurs in relation to Citadel Resources).
⚡ Improved the wording of some World Event decisions to make it clear that resources and villagers are taken away for only the current cycle.
⚡ Changed the table header for the lower limit to “minimum” in the warehouse panel.
⚡ Changed the name of villager rewards given for completing orders to “villagers” instead of “newcomers”.
⚡ Long town names without spaces are now automatically broken into two lines in the calendar at the bottom of the World Map HUD.
Some towns made before this update might have incorrectly formatted names due to this change. New towns, however, will be displayed correctly.
Bug fixes
⚡ Fixed a bug with Hauling Carts not disappearing when destroying a Small Storage.
⚡ Fixed a bug with workers being assigned to slots occupied by automatons when using the Shift key.
⚡ Fixed a bug with haulers not taking goods from production buildings in which workers are already unloading resources.
⚡ Fixed a bug with incorrect settlement names being displayed on the World Map HUD.
⚡ Fixed an issue with the Market Shift Plan Cornerstone appearing for players who already had almost all trade offers unlocked.
⚡ Fixed a bug with the Trading Post showing an incorrect message when selecting it at the exact moment a trader leaves the settlement.
⚡ Fixed a bug with the Vanishing Water Forest Mystery not showing progress correctly in its tooltip.
⚡ Fixed a bug with Deeds still being tracked in the Deed panel, even after their completion.
⚡ Fixed a bug with the mine showing an incorrect alert when it’s idle because of a player-selected setting.
⚡ Fixed an issue with the camera position not being saved between sessions.
⚡ Fixed a few minor issues with the Ancient Hearth’s mesh and textures (intersecting geometry, invisible vegetation).
⚡ Fixed an issue with dust particles still being animated when building construction is stopped.
⚡ Fixed some inconsistencies with the translation of “Drizzle” in the Russian version of the game.
⚡ Fixed a typo in the Czech description of the Additional Cornerstone Choice unlock in the Smoldering City.
⚡ Fixed a typo in the Traditional Chinese description of the Queen’s Gift Cornerstone.
Other
⚡ Improved save stability on certain hardware configurations.
The current game version is 0.61.1.
COMMUNITY CORNER
Check out some of the best community city designs, artwork, and memes from recent days. Click to unfold: [expand="more" type="show"] A couple of today’s screenshots were inspired by the settlement design by Conker: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3005500998 https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3005500998
Update Preview Livestream (Guidance and Lore - Part 1)
Greetings, Viceroys!
We invite you to join us later today at 3:00 pm UTC on our Twitch channel for an Update preview livestream during which we’ll present the new features coming in tomorrow’s Guidance and Lore Update (Part 1).
In the first part of this update, we’re introducing a new interactable character - Lori. She’s an experienced Viceroy, a decorated Queen’s Hand, and your beloved aunt!
As usual, the update will also include various UI and UX improvements, bug fixes, and other features.
If you can’t join our livestream, we’ll also upload the recording to our YouTube channel, where we keep the full Livestream Archive playlist.
We can’t wait to see you later today and kindly remind you that as usual, all the ongoing settlements will have to be force-finished (more information below) when the update goes live tomorrow.
May the storm be gentle on you, Eremite Games
How to prepare
We release new content Updates every two weeks on Thursdays around 1 pm – 4 pm UTC. As we make multiple changes to the game’s systems, balance, and content, the game needs to force-finish any settlements that are in progress when you download the update. This aims to prevent various game-breaking bugs that could occur otherwise.
IMPORTANT: If you have a settlement in progress, it will have to be force-finished when you download the Update. You will be reimbursed with Citadel Resources but you will have to start a new settlement. Your meta progress (that is: Experience, Level, completed Deeds, unlocked Upgrades, Citadel Resources, etc.) will remain intact.
In the main menu, under the “Play” button, there’s a countdown to upcoming Updates. Please finish your current settlement before the update day if you don’t want it to be completed automatically.
We released a small batch of fixes to resolve the issues that occurred after yesterday's update. We're super grateful for your reports and feedback!
Changelog:
Fixed a game-breaking bug caused by building a Small Warehouse with the "Hauling Cart" perk active (and without Small Warehouse haulers unlocked).
Fixed Hauler-related perk issues. They should now only show up for players with the Haulers - Main Warehouse upgrade unlocked in the Smoldering City, not the other way around.
Fixed an issue with villagers being able to carry more resources than intended.
Fixed an issue with Hauler slots incorrectly showing up in the Small Warehouses with only the Haulers - Main Warehouse upgrade unlocked in the Smoldering City.
Fixed an issue with Creeping Shadows Forest Mystery not being displayed on HUD.
Fixed an issue with Sparkcaster still being offered in the cornerstone pool (in the Coral Forest).
Corrected the Italian translation of Kiln in the Biscuit Recipes perk description.
Added the missing description of the Firelink Ritual and Work Safety Guide cornerstones in the Polish version.
Corrected a typo in the Polish description of the Stormbird Feathers Ancient Guardian part.
Fixed an issue with the old version of the Value Added Tax still being offered as a reward for some orders.
Fixed the "Severity" label being off-centered in the Embark panel and the Daily Expedition popup.
We’re back with yet another portion of features, UX improvements, and balance changes to keep you on your toes.
What’s new:
Haulers revamp
New perks
New Forest Mysteries
Storage reserve (lower limit)
Cornerstones rebalance
Recipe distribution rebalance
And more!
Continue reading for our design notes and a full changelog.
DEVELOPER NOTES
In today’s update, we bring you a revamp of the hauler system (boy that was quick), a little bit of new content in the form of new perks and Forest Mysteries, some much-needed balance for Cornerstones, building, and Citadel Upgrades, and of course the cherry on top - community inspired UI improvements. So without further ado, let's jump right into the nitty gritty details!
First off, the hauling revamp. In the last update, we introduced dedicated haulers together with two new buildings - the big and the small hauler stations. While this was a community-requested feature, we didn’t really manage to deliver it up to a satisfactory quality level. The main problems with this feature were the added blueprint bloat and the lack of a substantial boost or gameplay change offered by this new building type. In plain English - it was weak and unfun.
Now you might be wondering - why did we try this in the first place? Our initial goal with the hauler stations was to introduce a new type of choice in the game, a gameplay style less focused on a wide array of production buildings and oriented more in the direction of logistical optimization. But it quickly turned out that this wasn’t really feasible, and the original design goal felt forced in the end. That’s why we decided to revert this change and find a new place for haulers in the game.
After a few experiments, we arrived at a solution we think is both fun and rewarding, namely haulers being assigned to warehouses. This way we don’t add to the blueprint pool, and we introduce a system that is always accessible and easily balanced because of the worker investment (plus it’s just logical for haulers to be working in warehouses). We also considered some other solutions, like free workers carrying goods automatically, but that caused a lot more problems than it solved, both technically and in terms of user experience (as most of the game is built around the workplace system and dual/floating professions wouldn’t really work with existing mechanics). Additionally, to make things a bit more interesting, we introduced some new dedicated hauler perks into the mix.
Warehouse with Haulers and Hauling Cart
Speaking of perks - let’s move on to the new content. We added 4 new Cornerstones and 2 new trader/order perks to the game. Most of these are focused on haulers, like the Dual Carriage System Cornerstone, which adds 2 mechanized, autonomous hauling carts to the Main Warehouse. Additionally, we introduced 3 new Forest Mysteries (two negative ones and one positive) and 2 new Citadel Upgrades.
In this update, we also took some time to rebalance a few aspects of the game. Most importantly, we took a closer look at Cornerstones, trying to make some underwhelming ones a bit more attractive, while also nerfing two or three very powerful ones to make them less oppressive. Additionally, we decided to switch up some rarities and drop rates. After this patch, you might notice some “early game” effects having a slightly higher chance of appearing in the first few years of a run (and a slightly lower chance in late game). We also removed certain weak perks (such as Force of Nature or Blight Filter) to make the Cornerstone pools more balanced in general.
But that’s not all in terms of balance. There are also some changes to production buildings (recipe swaps and a shorter production time in the Clay Pit), as well as a cost rebalance in the upgrade tree in the Smoldering City. This last change is mainly aimed at new players, making some lower unlocks a bit cheaper to buy and speeding up early progression. This is just the first step, as we plan on doing a more extensive balance pass on upgrades once we’re closer to the 1.0 launch.
Let’s now move on to UI improvements. Probably the most exciting one is the ability to set a lower limit for a resource in the warehouse. This was requested multiple times by the community, and we finally came up with a way of allowing players to “reserve” a good. From now on, you can set a minimum amount for an item in the warehouse, and crafters won’t touch it unless there is an excess of it. However, scouts, hungry villagers, and builders will still take the item even if there is a limit set (but these interactions can be controlled through other means, like consumption control or selecting resources in the event UI).
Small Warehouse reserve
There are also multiple smaller UI changes in this update, like a recipe/ingredient toggle in the recipe panel, a new tier 0 recipe icon, a checkbox for needs in service buildings (so workers don’t stockpile goods unnecessarily), or the option to unassign just one woodcutter using the “unassign woodcutters” button on the HUD. And, as is tradition with every patch, we fixed a lot of bugs, typos, and inconsistencies.
Services checkbox
Tier 0 recipe
As always - thank you all for providing feedback and suggestions for the new update. If you’d like to share your ideas for upcoming updates, here are some useful links:
P.S. One of the best things you can do to help indie games is to leave a Steam review. If you’ve had a chance to play Against the Storm, we’d love to hear any feedback, positive or negative. Thanks!
CHANGELOG
Number of changes: 98 Inspired by community: 83%
Changes marked with ⚡ were inspired by the community.
New content and features
⚡ Haulers are now assigned to Warehouses instead of Hauling Stations.
The Main Warehouse has 3 workplaces for haulers, and the Small Warehouse has 2.
Haulers work the same way as they did before - they transport production yields and ingredients between buildings.
Haulers (in both Warehouse versions) now have a much larger range - 25 tiles instead of 12.
Both small and big Hauler Stations have been removed from the game. They will no longer be offered as blueprints or appear in glades.
Haulers are now unlocked via the upgrade tree in the Smoldering City. They are divided into two separate unlocks - for the Main Warehouse and for Small Warehouses.
Both unlocks are new and can be found in the First Dawn Company branch of the upgrade tree.
⚡ Added 4 new Cornerstones.
Hauling Cart (Legendary) - An automated rainpunk cart will be assigned to every warehouse in the settlement to help transport resources between buildings.
Dual Carriage System (Legendary) - Two rainpunk hauling carts will be assigned to the Main Warehouse to help transport resources between buildings.
Reckless Plunder (Legendary) - Scouts are so focused on looting that they unintentionally damage the environment. Increases the chance of bringing back twice as many resources from Abandoned Caches by 100%, but newly discovered resource nodes have fewer charges (-5 charges to small deposits, -15 charges to large deposits).
Travel Rations (Epic) - There is no need to return to the Hearth when you have provisions with you. Time between breaks for Haulers is increased by 50%.
Added 2 new perks that can be acquired from traders, orders, or glade events.
Safety Ropes (Rare) - A set of strong ropes to secure any shipment. Haulers and mechanized carts can carry 5 more goods at once.
Added 3 new Forest Mysteries.
Unnatural Erosion (Storm) - The wind and rain in this region seem more destructive than usual. Pay 5 Oil with each storm (multiplied by the number of years played). If you don't, 2 random resource nodes will be destroyed.
Shifting Paths (Storm) - The road to the village is long and winding, so some newcomers need a bit of extra motivation. Pay 2 Packs of Luxury Goods with each storm (multiplied by the number of years played). If you don't, the next newcomer group will arrive 50% slower.
Inspiring View (Drizzle) - The astonishingly beautiful view motivates villagers to work. The time interval between breaks is increased by 25%.
Added 2 new Smoldering City Upgrades.
First Dawn Company Headquarters Level 10 - unlocking Haulers for Small Warehouses and giving a passive double yield chance increase.
Vanguard Spire Level 5 - giving Bricks as a guaranteed starting bonus and increasing the total amount of node charges.
The hauler unlock for the Main Warehouse was squeezed in into an existing upgrade (and other upgrade rewards were reshuffled - you can find out more about that in the balance section of this changelog).
Due to this change, some players might be missing an upgrade or two after installing this update. This is because we inserted new unlocks in the middle of the upgrade tree, thereby bumping some existing upgrades higher up.
Balance
⚡ The Rotten Rain Forest Mystery no longer spawns Blood Flowers on farm fields. It now simply spawns them in a random place in the settlement (close to the Main Hearth if possible).
⚡ The Waterskin recipe now requires one less Oil on every tier.
⚡ Rebalanced multiple Cornerstones.
Local Taxes (Epic) - now gives 12 Amber every 50 Ale produced instead of 20 Amber every 100 Ale produced.
Force of Nature (Epic) - this perk was removed from the game.
Well-Rested Workers (Epic) - increased the chance for double yields from 20% to 25%.
Value Added Tax (Epic) - instead of giving 2 Amber for every 6 Packs of Trade Goods produced, this perk now increases the sell price of Packs of Trade Goods by 25%.
The Sparkcaster (Epic) - changed the rarity of this perk from Epic to Rare and removed it from the Cornerstone pool. It can now be acquired from traders, orders, or events.
From the Ashes (Legendary) - increased the number of Wildfire Essences given for solving dangerous events from 1 to 2.
Market Shift Plan (Legendary) - decreased the number of trade routes needed to remove the trade block drawback from 8 to 5.
Rich Glades (Legendary) - lowered the number of extra big node charges from 20 to 15.
Hidden from the Queen (Legendary) - moved the Impatience penalty from year 8 to year 9.
Blight Filter (Legendary) - this perk was removed from the game.
Counterfeit Amber (Legendary) - lowered the amount of rainwater required to generate Amber from 75 to 50. Changed the Blightrot Cysts growth increase from 20% to 25%.
Firelink Ritual (Legendary) - changed how this perk’s bonus is calculated. Instead of removing 25 Hostility for every 5 villagers with a need fulfilled, it now decreases Hostility by 5 for every 1 villager.
Work Safety Guide (Legendary) - changed how this perk’s bonus is calculated. Instead of increasing global production speed by 25% for every 5 villagers with a need fulfilled, it now increases the production speed by 5% for every 1 villager.
Obsidian Runestone (Legendary) - removed the drawback from this perk, changed its rarity to Epic, and decreased the HEarth Resistance bonus from 500 to 400.
Queen's Gift (Legendary) - changed how this perk works. Instead of giving Hearth Resistance for Impatience points, it now increases the Hearth Resistance by 250 for every 2 woodcutters in the settlement.
Alarm Bells (Legendary) - increased the double production bonus chance from 20% to 25%.
Trade Hub (Legendary) - changed the Resolve to Reputation growth speed reduction from a 50% to 75%.
Prosperous Settlement (Legendary) - increased the amount of Amber required to trigger the Resolve bonus from 45 to 50.
Protected Trade (Legendary) - changed the Hostility reduction from -15 to -10 for every 30 Amber traded.
Farsight (Legendary) increased the time limit of the working speed bonus for discovering small glades from 120 seconds to 180 seconds.
⚡ Tweaked the drop rates of multiple Cornerstones in the game.
Some Cornerstones are more beneficial when offered early during a game (like bonuses for opening glades or non-retroactive trade route effects), while others might be more attractive later on.
That’s why we decided to slightly increase the drop rates of “early” Cornerstones in the first few years of a game, and slightly reduce their drop rates during late game.
The Cornerstone pool is still the same, so it will still be possible to get an early Cornerstone near the end of the game (but it should happen less frequently).
As with every balance change, we will monitor its effects. If at any point the drop rates become too skewed in any direction, we will adjust.
⚡ Rebalanced the recipe distribution in a few buildings.
Artisan - removed the Pigment recipe (★★) and added the Packs of Luxury Goods recipe (★★).
Cooperage - removed the Training Gear recipe (★★) and added the Coats recipe (★★). The Flawless version of this building was also changed accordingly.
Leatherworker - removed the Pack of Luxury Goods recipe (★) and added the Pigment recipe (★★). The Flawless version of this building was also changed accordingly.
Smithy - removed the Coats recipe (★★) and added the Training Gear recipe (★★).
Clay Pit - decreased the production time of Clay and Reeds from 84 seconds to 60 seconds.
⚡ Rebalanced Citadel Upgrade prices. Some early unlocks were not aligned with the pricing pattern from other branches. At the same time, we wanted to slightly speed up the first 2-3 levels and make it easier for new players to get early upgrades.
Obsidian Archive Level 3 - lowered the cost from 24 to 12 Food Stockpiles.
Obsidian Archive Level 4 - lowered the cost from 24 to 18 Food Stockpiles.
Obsidian Archive Level 5 - lowered the cost from 30 to 24 Food Stockpiles.
Obsidian Archive Level 6 - lowered the cost from 36 to 30 Food Stockpiles.
Pioneers’ Gate Level 3 - lowered the cost from 36 to 30 Food Stockpiles.
Brass Forge Level 1 - lowered the cost from 24 to 18 Food Stockpiles.
Brass Forge Level 2 - lowered the cost from 30 Food Stockpiles and 6 Artifacts to 24 Food Stockpiles and 3 Artifacts.
Brass Forge Level 3 - lowered the cost from 48 Food Stockpiles and 6 Artifacts to 36 Food Stockpiles and 6 Artifacts.
Brass Forge Level 10 - increased the cost from 132 Food Stockpiles and 40 Artifacts to 144 Food Stockpiles and 40 Artifacts.
Dim Square Level 1 - lowered the cost from 24 to 18 Food Stockpiles.
Dim Square Level 2 - lowered the cost from 30 to 24 Food Stockpiles.
Dim Square Level 3 - lowered the cost from 36 to 30 Food Stockpiles.
First Dawn Headquarters Level 2 - lowered the cost from 24 to 18 Food Stockpiles.
First Dawn Headquarters Level 3 - lowered the cost from 36 to 30 Food Stockpiles.
Vanguard Spire Level 1 - lowered the cost from 24 to 18 Food Stockpiles.
Vanguard Spire Level 2 - lowered the cost from 36 Food Stockpiles and 6 Machinery to 24 Food Stockpiles and 3 Machinery.
Vanguard Spire Level 3 - lowered the cost from 36 Food Stockpiles and 6 Machinery to 30 Food Stockpiles and 6 Machinery.
Vanguard Spire Level 4 - lowered the cost from 48 Food Stockpiles and 6 Machinery to 36 Food Stockpiles and 6 Machinery.
Reshuffled a few Citadel Upgrades.
First Dawn Headquarters Level 3 - removed starting Bricks (moved to the new upgrade in the Vanguard Spire branch), added the Herbalists’ Camp Embarkation Bonus.
First Dawn Headquarters Level 5 - removed the Herbalists’ Camp Embarkation Bonus, added the Main Warehouse hauler unlock.
Reshuffled a few level up rewards.
Level 12 - removed the Hauling Station blueprint, added the new Hauling Cart Cornerstone instead.
Level 17 - added a new unlock, the Reckless Plunder Cornerstone.
Level 18 - added a new unlock, the Dual Carriage System Cornerstone.
UX/UI improvements
⚡ Added the option to set a lower limit for resources in Warehouses.
To set a lower limit, simply select a Warehouse, find the resource you need, and type in a value. The lock icon next to the text box will change automatically.
Once a limit is set, a lock icon will also appear on the HUD, on top of the resource icon.
The limit is a lower limit, meaning that workers will only use the surplus for production. Everything below the limit will not be touched by them.
The limit only applies to production. Scouts will still be able to take a limited resource, villagers will still eat it (unless told otherwise in the consumption control panel), and finishing orders will still take a limited good from the warehouse. Same goes for Firekeepers and builders.
You can quickly turn a limit on and off by clicking the lock icon next to the resource in the Warehouse panel (without needing to manually remove the value from the text box).
Just like tracked goods, lower limits in the Warehouse are automatically saved and loaded between subsequent runs.
Due to this change, the Warehouse panel had to change from a collection of resource icons to a scrollable table. This also means that the way you track resources now is not by clicking on the icon, but by using the “track” checkbox in the same row as the resource.
There is also a search box in the Warehouse panel to make it easier to find certain goods.
⚡ Changed the recipe/ingredient dropdown in the recipe panel to a toggle button.
⚡ Changed the tier 0 icon to a star outline (instead of a vague gauge/meter symbol) to bring it closer to the other tier symbols.
⚡ Added a checkbox to needs in service buildings. Unchecking it will prevent workers from stockpiling resources in these buildings.
⚡ Added a new option to the woodcutter button on the top HUD. Now using the middle mouse button, you can unassign a single woodcutter.
⚡ Improved the wording in the description of the No Strangers Deed.
⚡ Improved the wording of some effects blocking trader arrival. They now also state that traders currently residing in the settlement will leave.
Changed the wording in the description of the Prestige 1 difficulty modifier to make it shorter and clearer.
Added a custom label to archaeology events in the Scarlet Orchard.
Added a unique thumbnail illustration for Sealed Forest settlements in the trade route and game history panels.
Added a cart UI panel. You can now click on hauling carts or mine carts to see a short description and the goods that are being carried.
Bug fixes
⚡ Fixed a bug with Blight Fighters destroying ingredients when they are unassigned from their workplace in the middle of transporting them.
⚡ Fixed an issue with Inscribed Monoliths not giving resources when removed.
⚡ Fixed a few inconsistencies with the Training Expedition panel (wrong UI header, incorrect text formatting).
⚡ Added two missing town labels for trade route tooltips (for Cursed Royal Woodlands and Sealed Forest towns).
⚡ Fixed an issue with some buildings being incorrectly listed as “unlocked by deed” in the in-game encyclopedia.
⚡ Fixed a bug with Daily Expedition town names not being displayed correctly in the Game History panel.
⚡ Fixed a missing tooltip when hovering over the Orders button.
⚡ Fixed an issue with background blends having different alpha levels in different UI panels.
⚡ Fixed a bug that caused the Ominous Presence and Flooded Mines modifiers to be generated next to each other during some Cycles.
⚡ Fixed a bug with the Beacon Tower being shown as locked in the in-game encyclopedia.
⚡ Fixed an animation glitch in the Seal closing animation.
⚡ Fixed an issue with redundant minus signs in negative cycle effects that remove embarkation goods.
⚡ Fixed a bug with the sacrifice alert in the top HUD being covered up by the year counter.
⚡ Fixed an issue with the Cycle warning text having an incorrect font.
⚡ Fixed a typo in the Russian description of the Exploring Expedition Cornerstone.
⚡ Fixed an issue with the Kiln and the Furnace being translated to the same name in Italian.
⚡ Fixed an incorrect translation for Porridge in the Ukrainian version of the game.
⚡ Fixed a typo in the Korean description of the Guild of Traders, or Thieves? modifier.
Other
⚡ Added a new music track to the Marshlands (Drizzle).
The current game version is 0.60.1.
COMMUNITY CORNER
Check out some of the best community city designs, artwork, and memes from recent days. Click to unfold: [expand="more" type="show"]
Against the Storm’s new Logistics and Balance Update is set to be released tomorrow - September 28 - between 1:00 pm UTC and 4:00 pm UTC.
Aside from numerous balance changes related to cornerstones, recipe distribution, and Citadel Upgrades costs, the update will introduce significant changes to the recently added Hauler profession.
Here’s a short excerpt from tomorrow’s update notes:
⚡ Haulers are now assigned to Warehouses instead of Hauling Stations.
The Main Warehouse has 3 workplaces for haulers, and the Small Warehouse has 2.
Haulers work the same way as they did before - they transport production yields and ingredients between buildings.
Both small and big Hauler Stations have been removed from the game. They will no longer be offered as blueprints or appear in glades.
Haulers are now unlocked via the upgrade tree in the Smoldering City. They are divided into two separate unlocks - for the Main Warehouse and for Small Warehouses.
Both unlocks are new and can be found in the First Dawn Company branch of the upgrade tree.
We’re also adding new perks that can increase Haulers' efficiency or add automated Hauling Carts to Warehouses.
Small Warehouse with Haulers and a Hauling Cart
On top of that, you can expect multiple UX improvements and bug fixes.
As always, we remind you to finish your current settlements before the update goes live. For more information, please check the section below.
May the storm be gentle on you, Eremite Games
How to prepare
We release new content Updates every two weeks on Thursdays around 1 pm – 4 pm UTC. As we make multiple changes to the game’s systems, balance, and content, the game needs to force-finish any settlements that are in progress when you download the update. This aims to prevent various game-breaking bugs that could occur otherwise.
IMPORTANT: If you have a settlement in progress, it will have to be force-finished when you download the Update. You will be reimbursed with Citadel Resources but you will have to start a new settlement. Your meta progress (that is: Experience, Level, completed Deeds, unlocked Upgrades, Citadel Resources, etc.) will remain intact.
In the main menu, under the “Play” button, there’s a countdown to upcoming Updates. Please finish your current settlement before the update day if you don’t want it to be completed automatically.
We just released a hotfix that deals with the reported issues and should help with crashes on Linux.
We're also aware that many of you were dissatisfied with Hearth's Hub Level section being moved to a separate tab and unsure why we made this change.
Over time, the Hearth's panel grew taller and taller with the introduction of tabs, upgrades, effects, building type tags, etc. Eventually, it stopped fitting the game's screen on higher UI Size settings in particular aspect ratios, mainly the 16:10 - which the game officially supported since its launch. As a result, we moved it to a separate tab.
However, as you correctly noted, this was a UX downgrade and made it burdensome to operate. We decided to move it back to the primary tab and seek compromise elsewhere - mainly in the size of decorative elements of the UI.
Changelog:
Moved the Hearth's Hub Level section back to the Hearth's primary tab and reduced the size of decorative elements.
Added "Virtual Machine Mode" setting to the game's Options (General tab, Control section). It's disabled by default. If you're playing on Linux or a virtual machine, enabling this option should prevent certain crashes. Unfortunately, the game doesn't support Linux and MacOS, so our options are a bit limited when it comes to troubleshooting both operating systems.
Added "Input Auto Focus" setting to the game's Options (General tab, Control section). It's enabled by default. By disabling it, the Steam Deck's virtual keyboard won't be automatically invoked upon interacting with the goods in the Trader Panel (and a few other places).
Increased stability and reduced freezes and crashes when canceling building placement on some CPUs.
Fixed missing town names in the Game History tab. This change won't work retroactively, so, unfortunately, the affected town names will remain unchanged in the Game History tab.
Fixed incorrect (too high) reward multiplier on Prestige 2 difficulty.
Fixed an issue with the last Dim Square upgrade not appearing in the Smoldering City. This upgrade unlocks the Extra Merchandise effect (All traders will have +1 cornerstone or blueprint to sell) and was moved up the ladder due to adding a new Dim Square upgrade.
Corrected the House Upgrades tooltip.
Corrected some typos in the Polish language (that we, a Polish studio, somehow omitted).
We wish you a great time with the new update and a relaxing weekend!
